Freighting a bike to Australia?

[Running Bear]

Howdy, has anyone had experience with freighting a bike return to Australia? I'm going in July and wondering about air or sea freight. Air seems simpler, quicker and not much more expensive by the time you've costed in port fees, customs and quarantine both ways (sigh) Any recommended freight companies or helpful pointers appreciated. Cheers.

[Firefight]

Howdy, has anyone had experience with freighting a bike return to Australia? I'm going in July and wondering about air or sea freight. Air seems simpler, quicker and not much more expensive by the time you've costed in port fees, customs and quarantine both ways (sigh) Any recommended freight companies or helpful pointers appreciated. Cheers.



pm whitetrash, he works 4 a freight fwder


F/F

[p.dath]

Howdy, has anyone had experience with freighting a bike return to Australia? I'm going in July and wondering about air or sea freight. Air seems simpler, quicker and not much more expensive by the time you've costed in port fees, customs and quarantine both ways (sigh) Any recommended freight companies or helpful pointers appreciated. Cheers.

There are quite a few threads on here about it. Forget the actual cost, its a pig of a job.

[p.dath]

Check out:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=109843&highlight=australia+transport

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=83306&highlight=australia+transport

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=84951&highlight=australia+transport

[Running Bear]

Thanks for that. Wizzed off enquiries to GO!Logistics and Dave at Get Routed. Will post details as they arrive.

[Running Bear]

Message from GetRouted today:

We don't do any shipping over the Winter months - there's no demand at that time of year. We don't do individual bikes crated, we do containers full of bikes (see pic below) and our service is geared up for Aussies going to and from NZ, not Kiwis coming to Aus - sounds dumb, Eh?, but there are reasons for it.

Aussie is a difficult place to bring bikes to - you'll need a Carnet de Passages en Douane - talk to the NZAA - the Auckland office processes them - allow 6 weeks. Any freight forwarder can send your bike over if you crate it securely. Save the crate when here and send it back in the same crate.

There could be a business set up to cater for Kiwis wanting to come over with their bikes, but the NZ marketplace is not big enough to sustain a business which just ships bikes as we do to Aust & back. We only just make a living out of taking Aussies to NZ & back and this current season has been a slow one.

So... to plan B. Checking air freight options.

[p.dath]

Is the bike you are taking over a road bike? What are you going over for?

[DEATH_INC.]

Did ya talk to trashie like f/f suggested?

[sipchild]

Hay there can you keep us posted on how you go i,m thinking of taking my bike over in 2011 for a 6 week tour would like some info.

[Broomrider]

I hope shipping a bike to Australia is more straight forward than bringing one back to NZ....
When my HondaStrider moved back from Perth back in 2006 he had a container with a few house hold possessions and his Honda VFR 800 (his pride and joy at the time). When the container arrived in Lyttleton it was missing the VFR!!! ....Allied Pickfords forgot to put it in the container and there it was sitting in their yard in Perth still..FFS...

[rok-the-boat]

A bike is not always a bike. I brought a bike to NZ from Korea - but it was not a bike. It was a pile of bits in a box and accompanied my household stuff - I dismantled it first, just left the frame and engine together. Maybe that would work. Of course, keep the paperwork.

[Running Bear]

Well, sort of. It's a new Tenere 660. There's a 1200 parallel twin not far away. Erk, that'll be some trail bike. Doing a lap around Australia, anticlockwise from Sydney. Immerse myself in the culture /beer.

[xknuts]

These guys are the experts at it. But surprised at their answer on post 6.
Please post their air freight answer?

http://www.getrouted.com.au/index.htm

[CTD]

Well, sort of. It's a new Tenere 660. There's a 1200 parallel twin not far away. Erk, that'll be some trail bike. Doing a lap around Australia, anticlockwise from Sydney. Immerse myself in the culture /beer.

Now that sounds like a plan too me!!

[clint640]

We used Go Logistics to go over last year. Air over, sea back. Good apart from Qantas losing our bloody Carnets - take the carnet yourself or have it sent by tracked courier would be the only thing I would do different. Full illustrated story here:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=460829

Cheers
Clint

[crazyhorse]

Howdy, has anyone had experience with freighting a bike return to Australia? I'm going in July and wondering about air or sea freight. Air seems simpler, quicker and not much more expensive by the time you've costed in port fees, customs and quarantine both ways (sigh) Any recommended freight companies or helpful pointers appreciated. Cheers.

My bike left by boat and only took about 3 weeks in total until it was cleared from customs. And that was from Napier to Colbouture in QLD. Costs do not just sit with shipping, its getting it re-vinned, GST to pay, registration, compulsory third party insurance and all the rest of the things to do. Make sure its what you want to do before you make your final decision, otherwise, in my eyes, it really is much more simpler to just purchase a bike when you arrive. Remove the cost of the exchange rate, and the bikes are comparitively priced.

good luck

[Headbanger]

And on that note, can anyone suggest where to look (on the internet) to find Bikes for Sale in Aussie.

And do they have anything like Kiwibiker?, Due to the current bullshit work situation I'm going to start applying for jobs in Aussie.

[clint640]

. its getting it re-vinned, GST to pay, registration, compulsory third party insurance and all the rest of the things to do.


Um, the question was about a return trip. None of the above red tape applies. You just need a Carnet. Some states might have other requirements but to get into NSW temporarily you have a customs inspection to check the Carnet, Quarantine check for dirt bugs etc then you uncrate & ride off into the sunset. Permanently importing does seem to be a world of pain. They really don't want jap import cars from NZ devaluing their shitbox Fords & Holdens so they make it hard to bring in any vehicle.

You are dead right however that the bare per kg / per m3 shipping cost is only part of it though, make sure the quote includes all handling charges, port charges, terminal fees, inspection charges, stamp duty, insurance, bullshit fee they made up to cover the next Friday pissup etc etc.

Cheers
Clint

[awa355]

And on that note, can anyone suggest where to look (on the internet) to find Bikes for Sale in Aussie.

And do they have anything like Kiwibiker?, Due to the current bullshit work situation I'm going to start applying for jobs in Aussie.

Two of us are looking at going over later this year to spend a few weeks riding down the east coast to sth Aust. Which would be simpler, hiring two bikes or purchasing 2nd hand bikes. If we did that, and sold them at the end for , even half price, that would cut the cost by some. Sounds like taking our bikes from here could be more hassle than it's worth.

[Running Bear]

Quote from Taurus Logistics$1254 Lyttleton-Sydney. Travelling on a Carnet so no import Duty/GST. Have to supply and crate own bike and get it to Ch-Ch from Nelson.
Return passage quoted $1270. Use same crate to bring bike home. Organise storage of crate in Sydney - maybe at f/f depot?
TNL International quoted $465/m3. Allowing 3m3 gives $1395 from Nelson incl.
Air Freight is possibly simpler in that you don't need to crate the bike, but is more costly. Green Freight Auckland quoted "about $1500" plus customs clearance etc in Sydney, another $439 (gasp!)
I'll probably be shipping her over with Taurus, other companies either haven't returned with quotes or have only quoted verbally which doesn't inspire confidence.
The Carnet is obtained from AA Auckland 09 5488339 Alan Chesterman. There is a bond 15% bikes value, plus $475 appln fee (reducing to $385 for AA members)
All this crap ain't puttin' me off, no sir. It's still gonna be well worth the trouble - Australia beckons!

[Running Bear]

Two of us are looking at going over later this year to spend a few weeks riding down the east coast to sth Aust. Which would be simpler, hiring two bikes or purchasing 2nd hand bikes. If we did that, and sold them at the end for , even half price, that would cut the cost by some. Sounds like taking our bikes from here could be more hassle than it's worth.

Hire the bikes mate. Don't even think about taking your own bikes from here.Just not worth it for a short trip. Buying over there requires you to have an Aussie address for registration and insurance, and it may take a while to on-sell at the other end.Just hire and allow for the simple (but painful) cost. Enjoy your trip, might see you on the road. Cheers.

[Running Bear]

Two of us are looking at going over later this year to spend a few weeks riding down the east coast to sth Aust. Which would be simpler, hiring two bikes or purchasing 2nd hand bikes. If we did that, and sold them at the end for , even half price, that would cut the cost by some. Sounds like taking our bikes from here could be more hassle than it's worth.

Hire the bikes mate. Don't even think about taking your own bikes from here.Just not worth it for a short trip. Buying over there requires you to have an Aussie address for registration and insurance, and it may take a while to on-sell at the other end.Just hire and allow for the simple (but painful) cost. Enjoy your trip, might see you on the road. Cheers.